Assumption Parish officials have asked Texas Brine Co. of Houston to reimburse the parish for about $321,000 spent in its response to a sinkhole now believed to have been caused by the company's failed salt cavern.

The Advocate reports that the general area of the 1- by-3-mile salt dome contains a cavern from which a company used to extract brine. A wall of the cavern collapsed and is believed to have caused a 5.5-acre sinkhole. The sinkhole's discovery Aug. 3 prompted an evacuation of 150 homes in the Bayou Corne community.

Stephen Horton, a researcher with the University of Memphis Center for Earthquake Research and Information, said the largest of the tremors occurred Tuesday.

Horton said the tremors are not a reason for concern nor do they appear to indicate the formation of another sinkhole.